International concern grows over deteriorating human rights and judicial independence in Turkey

ANKARA — Thirty international legal and human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch (HRW), and Bar Associations from Germany and New York, have expressed serious concerns over the intensifying repression of lawyers in Turkey.

The joint statement highlighted the alarming dissolution of the Istanbul Bar Association’s Board, describing it as an attack on a professional body committed to rights-based principles. The incident underscores the significant constraints placed on human rights lawyers in Turkey.

Istanbul Bar Association President İbrahim Kaboğlu and board members face charges of “terror propaganda” and “publicly spreading disinformation” related to a statement issued in December calling for an independent investigation into the deaths of journalists Nazım Daştan and Cihan Bilgin in Syria. Prosecutors are seeking prison sentences of up to 12 years and a ban on political activities.

Separately, Alain Berset, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, expressed concerns about potential violations of fundamental rights in Turkey. Speaking to Reuters, Berset emphasized the importance of safeguarding freedoms of expression and assembly as well as maintaining the independence of democratic institutions.

Berset confirmed that the Council of Europe remains engaged in dialogue with Turkish authorities and opposition leaders, highlighting a worrying decline in democratic standards within the country.